Gov’t Committed to Ending Violence Against Children

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, accompanied by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin and Cabinet Secretariat Pramono Anung, enters the room before Limited Cabinet Meeting in Jakarta, Thursday (9/1). (Photo: JAY / PR)

There has been a significant rise in cases of violence against children, including sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, neglect or deprivation, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said.

“The Online Information System for Women and Children Protection (Simfoni-PPA) shows that the number cases of violence against children was recorded at 1,975 in 2015 and it rose into 6,820 in 2016,” President Jokowi said in his remarks during a Limited Cabinet Meeting on Handling Cases of Violence Against Children at Presidential Office, Jakarta, Thursday (9/1).

According to the President, case of violence against children is like an iceberg phenomenon in which a large percentage of a problem goes unreported or otherwise hidden from view and only a small number of cases is reported.

Therefore, President Jokowi underlined three important things that must be taken into account, namely:

First, the President ordered relevant ministries and non-ministerial government institutions to prioritize efforts to prevent violence against children.

Preventive action, the President continued, can be carried out by launching various campaign models, including dissemination and providing interesting public education that will attract and encourage the people to have social awareness about violence against children.

“Of various violence cases reported, it turns out that sexual violence is ranked first, followed psychological and physical violence,” the President added.

Second, the President has called for a well-functioning system to address violence against children.

“This system aims to help violence victims and their families to get a swift response regarding complaints and reporting,” the President said.

Third, the President said that there should be major reforms in managing cases of violence against children, including quick, integrated, and comprehensive management system.

“If necessary, the Government should provide One-Stop Services that consist of complaints, assistance and health services, as well as law enforcement that can give a deterrent effect to the perpetrators, especially pedophilia and those committed child sexual abuse,” the President added.

Fourth, President Jokowi has called for more social rehabilitation services and social reintegration for the victims. (FID / MIT / JAY / ES)

Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas